Hello all,
I just recovered some old CD-Rs from the dust and they contains my old works done at least 20 years ago.
The file format start from cdr versione 3.0. Unfortunately I only have native cdr files a few PDFs.
Is there a way to open/convert them to current format? I don't mind converting the corel fonts.
TIA
tony
I would say quite a bit changed for the graphic designer which is why opening from previous versions and saving back to previous versions became so problematic.
Newer versions of software support not only new features but support old features in an improved manner.
An example of these features would be improved control over custom spot pallette, support for open type and a three steps approach to N-color support in PDF, then transparency support in PDF and finally live N-color, live transparency and complex (incorrectly created) complex fills with transparency in True PDF output. NONE of these features are supported in older software and therefore it's in cases that use these features impossible to back save.
What changed for the designer is that (if the designer is capable) they can create using high end features like live transparency bit also requires the designer to pick the output provider carefully.
Adobe Illustrator opens old AI & EPS files accurately, all the way down to version 1. CorelDRAW cannot do that. And that really sucks since very few applications outside of CorelDRAW can import CDR files. Anyone with a lot of old art files in CDR format is at the risk of seeing those art files made worthless. What if the next release of CorelDRAW won't open CDR files made before version 10?
Saving files down to earlier versions is always going to come with the trade-off that certain features & effects in newer versions are not going to be backward compatible in old versions of the software. Still, there are valid purposes for being able to save art files down to earlier file versions, particularly when the artwork is going to be imported into a different application. I routinely down-save Illustrator AI files to version CS6 format to import into current versions of CorelDRAW. We use AI, EPS, PDF and SVG files as exchange formats with industry specific applications.
As it stands, Adobe Illustrator is far more friendly than CorelDRAW for archiving art files for the long term.
Well said. I used it since the 90s for sharing vector files!
Coreldraw reflects the schizophrenic nature of the original Corel corporation. Under Copeland in my opinion Draw was created in a bizarre manner, ignoring some core technologies of the day. Hence many of the issues.
It has been publicly traded, returned to private ownership, sold and I believe it's on its 3rd owner, maybe more owners than than that, all this leading to lack of continuity in its programming.
Just, my own experience however, in my over 30 years of corporate use of Coreldraw the issue of not being able to accurately open files from previous versions has been significantly, insignificant!
I kept older versions of Draw running on old computers as long as it was required but have not had any issues for an extremely long time and as of January one, I no longer have any contractual obligation to do so.
Now, as a private person creating my own work for my own use, since all my personal work has been done on the subscription version my family is in significantly better shape than an Adobe user.
If my family wants access, to edit my files after my demise a Corel subscription and the cost of support applications is a significantly lower cost than if I used Adobe.
*.ai file is the better for sharing files with other designers. It is openable not only from graphic design programs but also from other kind of programs. *.cdr file is very well too, but much other programs adopted *.ai files as the prefereed vector file sharing format/filter. I saw for example in programs/app for creating embroideries machine executive files, but I remember something like that also for laser cutting and engraving machine or similar.